Turkmenistan or Turkmenia, is one of the six landlocked nations in Central Asia. In northwest it is surrounded by Kazakhstan; in north, east and northeast by Uzbekistan; Afghanistan in southeast; in south and southwest by Iran; and Caspian Sea on the west. Due to its situation, and restrictions put by government, it is sometimes called the North Korea of Central Asia. Ashgabat is both its capital and largest city.
Turkmenistan is a sparsely populated nation in Asia and least populated in Central Asia. Turkmenistan people are known as Turkmenistanis, Turkmenians or Turkmens. Turkmenistan has been used as a thoroughfare by other nations and cultures for a long time, till Russian Empire annexed it in 1881. Turkmenistan played key role in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central Asia. Turkmenistan became the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic in 1925, as a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. The country became independent in 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Turkmenistan possesses the world’s 4th largest natural gas and substantial crude oil reserves. Much of the country is covered by the Karakum or Black Sand Desert. Turkmenistan is part the Organisation of Turkic States, and a member of the United Nations. Turkmenistan is the only permanently neutral country in Asia, as recognized by the UN General Assembly. Turkmenistan overwhelmingly declared its independence from the Soviet Union following a referendum in 1991; following which constitutional law was adopted on 27 October, 1991.
After its independence from Soviet Union in 1991, Turkmenistan has been ruled by three repressive totalitarian regimes. First it was ruled by Saparmurat Niyazov, who was President for Life till his death in 2006. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow became president in 2007 until 2022 and stepped down in favour of his son Serdar, who was elected president in a much-criticized election. Originally inhabited by Indo-Iranians, history of Turkmenistan begins with its annexation by Achaemenid Empire of Iran. The name of Turkmenistan can be divided into two components, Türkmen and Persian suffix stan meaning “place of” or “country”. The word “Turkmen” originated from Turk with the Sogdian suffix of men, which literally means “almost Turk”.
Later, in the 8th century AD, Turkic-speaking Oghuz tribes moved from Mongolia into Central Asia and formed the ethnic basis of the modern Turkmen population. In the 10th century, the word “Turkmen” was first applied to Oghuz groups that accepted Islam under Seljuk Empire. They played an important role under the Seljuk Empire, in spreading Turkic culture into present-day Azerbaijan as well as eastern Turkey. Eventually they grew so powerful that in the 12th century, Turkmen and other tribes overthrew the Seljuk Empire from their lands.
Just about a hundred years later, in 13th century, the invading Mongols took over the more northern lands where the Turkmens had settled, forcing them to move Turkmens southwards; it contributed to the formation of new tribal groups under Turkmen society. In 16th and 18th centuries despite strife nomadic Turkmen tribes, remained staunchly independent. Russian forces began occupying Turkmen territory in the late 19th century from their Caspian Sea base at Krasnovodsk now Türkmenbaşy. The Russians eventually overcame Uzbek khanates however in 1879, Russian forces, were defeated by Teke Turkmens.
However, in 1881, the last significant resistance was crushed at the Battle of Geok Tepe, and Turkmenistan together with Uzbekistan was annexed into the Russian Empire. After demise of empire in 1918 and subsequent rise of Soviet Union, though Turkmenistan played its designated economic role within the Soviet Union for much of 20th century; yet its remoteness meant it remained outside the course of major world events.
Even major liberalization movement of ‘Perestroika’ and ‘Glasnost’ that shook Soviet Russia in the late 1980s had little impact on the country. After gaining independence in 1991 things were smooth, till between 2002 and 2004; when serious tensions arose between Turkmenistan and the neighbouring Uzbekistan because of bilateral disputes. In 2005, the then president assumed dictatorial powers, and the trend has been continuing ever since.
Turkmenistan is in a temperate desert zone with a dry continental climate with mountain ranges to the south and southeast. The climate of Turkmenistan is characterized by low cloudiness, low precipitation, and high degree of evaporation. A lack of mountains in the north means, cold Arctic air easily reaches the southern mountain ranges, which in turn blocks the warm, moist air coming from the Indian Ocean.
The Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan, is one of the driest deserts in the world. Turkmenistan contains seven (7) terrestrial eco-regions, including the Alai-Western Tian Shan steppe, Kopet Dag woodlands and forest steppe; and others. Except for oases in narrow strips dotted along the foothills of the Kopet-Dag Range and along Amu Darya, Morghāb, and Tejen rivers, deserts characterize its terrain. The Karakum Canal, one of the world’s largest irrigation and shipping canals; finished in 1967 brought permanent source of water to the region.
Post 1991 independence, all Soviet-era collective and state farms were converted into “farmers associations”. All field crops of “farmers associations” are irrigated by canal water due to the aridity of the climate. The top crop in terms of area planted are wheat and cotton. Turkmenistan is the world’s tenth-largest cotton producer. Turkmenistani farmers’ started cotton production in the Murghab Valley, after the conquest of Merv by the Russian Empire in 1884.
Merv, is recognized as one of the oldest oasis-cities in Central Asia, and was once one of the biggest cities in the world. Merv was also reputed to be one of the greatest cities of the Islamic world; as well as an important stopover on the Silk Road from China. International tourism in Turkmenistan has not grown significantly despite creation of Awaza tourist zone by the Caspian Sea, so there is lot of scope for growth.
Every traveller must obtain a visa before entering Turkmenistan from a local travel agency. Tourists visiting Turkmenistan, can avail the services of organized tour operators; who provide guided tours of many historical sites located in and around Nisa, Konye-Urgench, Daşoguz, Ancient Merv, and Mary. Tourists can also go on beach tours of Avaza by the Caspian Sea as well as avail medical tours and holidays in the sanatoria of Ýylysuw, Bayramaly, Mollagara, and Archman.
In January 2022, Turkmenistan’s President ordered that the fire at Darvaza gas crater, known informally as the country’s “Gateway to Hell”, and one of biggest and most popular tourist attractions of Turkmenistan, asking it to be completely extinguished. It is said that the massive circular gas crater was formed; when a Soviet drilling operation looking for natural gas went horribly wrong in 1971. However, when Canadian explorer George Kourounis examined the gas crater in 2013; he discovered that there is no one, who actually knows how the natural gas in the crater started to burn.
Well connected by air, road, rail and sea; the country is known for its tribal nature. The major modern Turkmen tribes are Teke, Yomut, Ersari, Chowdur, Gokleng and Saryk with most living in villages around the oases. Muslims form 93% of the population while 6% follow Eastern Orthodox Church rest are non-religious. The people of Turkmenistan have traditionally been nomads and equestrians. Even today, after the fall of USSR or Soviet Union several attempts made to urbanize the Turkmens into settlements have not been very successful. Though nomadic in nature, Turkmens live in a society divided into various clans, and each clan or ethnic group is known for its own distinct dialect and style of dress.
Each ethnic group, builds its own yurts throughout the region. Yurts are circular houses with dome roofs, made of a wooden frame, that is covered with hides of sheep or other livestock. Horses are an essential part of recreational activities for the people of Turkmenistan. Games such as horseback fighting, and horseracing are popular among them. Turkmens are most well known for making knotted Turkmen carpets, that are often mistakenly called Bukhara rugs in the West.
The men in Turkmenistan wear the traditional ‘telpek’ hats, which are large hats made of black or white sheep skin, resembling afros. The desert in the country is home to variety of animals including foxes, wildcats, goats, cheetahs, lynx, snow leopards, wild boars, wild donkeys, and rare pink deer. Various species of birds including vast flocks of ducks, geese, and swans make the east coast of the Caspian Sea their winter home. Turkmenistan’s principal trading partners included China, Turkey, Russia, and UAE.
Turkenistan is known for its numerous landmark structures built across the country. Much of industries are in capital Ashgabat, which is the most modern city and also the healthcare and education centre. Most hotels that offer luxurious, mid-range and budget accommodations, are in the capital and restaurants mostly serve variety of traditional Turkmen or Russian cuisine. There is a lot of scope for adventure activities in the country including hiking, biking, camel riding, horse riding, as well as kayaking in Caspian Sea, for interested tourists. Overall an extended weekend visit to Turkmenistan is worth it.
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